Uterine fibroids! They are non cancerous and not harmful. However, they may cause complications and some health issues.
While the only foolproof way to treat fibroids is medications or surgery, you can improve your symptoms simply by making some dietary changes. While no diet will ensure fibroid prevention, changing your diet can help reduce the formation of fibroids. Isn’t it a better plan?
The following is a comprehensive detail of how uterine fibroids and your food may interact, as well as what changes you may make to help with fibroid symptoms.
Let’s start.
Table of Contents
Can You Shrink Fibroids Naturally?
If a person’s symptoms are annoying or severe, a doctor may suggest treatment, which could be surgery. Although some drugs can decrease fibroids, they are frequently associated with negative side effects. As a result, doctors usually only prescribe medications for short-term use or to prepare for surgery.
Surgery! Does it scare you? But adding in your knowledge, several studies have proposed that particular foods and well-balanced diets can help reduce uterine fibroids risk and alleviate symptoms.
So, in response to your question, ‘Can I shrink my fibroids naturally?’ Some of the symptoms may be alleviated by the diet you consume. More significantly, the appropriate fibroids diets can help to balance hormones that may or may not be the cause of fibroid growth.
So, what foods should you consider or avoid and why? Let’s see.
Foods for Shrinking Fibroids: What to Eat?
‘What we consume makes us who we are’. How many times have dietitians and other health and wellness experts told you this? I am sure, A HUNDRED TIMES!
There are certain diets that can assist to ease fibroid symptoms and discomforts, including:
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Bloating
- Frequent urgency to urinate
- Anaemia due to constipation
- Lower abdominal pain
Read about lower abdominal pain in early pregnancy.
While a change in diet may not completely eliminate fibroid symptoms, consuming certain foods may bring some temporary relief.
The following sections cover the good foods for shrinking fibroids or their symptoms.
Pineapple
Pineapple has anti-inflammatory properties. Pineapple has been shown to lessen fibroid-induced uterine contractions, as well as the associated discomfort and cramping.
Green Tea
Green tea includes antioxidant compounds known as flavanols. Antioxidants minimise oxidative stress in the body, which helps to reduce cell damage. Oxidative stress is a major contributor to this disease.
According to a study, the benefits of consuming green tea extract on 33 females were studied. Green tea extract users had fewer severe fibroids symptoms and their fibroids shrank.
As a result, green tea may be beneficial in the treatment of fibroids. Green tea for fibroids, however, requires additional investigation before healthcare practitioners may prescribe it.
Curcumin as A Good Uterine Fibroids Diet
Curcumin is one of the active components in turmeric. It possesses anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antibacterial effects.
According to certain studies, curcumin can kill fibrotic cells or prevent them from replicating. Again, researchers need to examine their impact on humans to determine whether they are useful.
Cruciferous Vegetables
Cruciferous vegetables are one of the fiber rich foods. These can help you lose weight by curbing your appetite and causing you to eat less. And that’s significant because fibroid symptoms can be alleviated by lowering weight. Some of the cruciferous vegetables that you can eat include:
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Radish
- Turnip
- Kale
Garlic and Uterine Fibroids
High oestrogen levels can raise your chances of developing fibroids and experiencing more severe symptoms. Certain meals can aid in the restoration of hormone imbalances, as well as mitigate the risks and symptoms.
Garlic, for example, is one of the foods that can balance high oestrogen levels. It possesses antibacterial, antifungal, antiviral properties. Reduced oestrogen levels may, as a result, lessen the likelihood of developing fibroids or slow the growth of existing fibroids–at least enough to keep them from pressing on other organs and causing abdominal pain.
Some other foods for shrinking fibroids or lessen symptoms include:
- Carotenoids rich foods: They can boost your fertility. These include carrots, pumpkin, apricot, and spinach.
- Flaxseeds
- Quinoa
- High vitamin foods such as almonds, hazelnuts, soya products, and broad beans.
- Apples and oranges
Foods for Shrinking Fibroids: What to Avoid?
While no single food has been related to the development of fibroids, some foods may increase your chances of developing them. Why? They have a lot of oestrogen in them. Eliminating them may help you manage your oestrogen levels more effectively.
Processed Meat
Processed meat is high in added hormones including oestrogen. According to some research, those who consume a diet heavy in red meat are more likely to acquire fibroids. White meat (chicken or turkey) can be substituted for red meat (lamb or beef).
Soy Products
Soy and soy products are rich in phytoestrogens. These are oestrogen-like chemicals that act in your body. While this may be beneficial if you’re dealing with low oestrogen, it’s a huge problem. Because high oestrogen levels appear to promote fibroid growth.
Watch Out for Artificial Sweeteners
Don’t use artificial sweeteners. While they don’t contain oestrogen, they may have an impact on gut microbes and hormone balance.
It’s also not a good idea to consume natural sugar. High insulin (produced by a high sugar intake) reduces sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), which causes oestrogen to be released into your system and can cause symptoms such as painful breasts, fibroids, and heavy menses.
It is possible to eliminate sweeteners from your diet, but it is challenging.
White Foods – A Not to Eat Fibroids Diet
Another group of avoiding foods for shrinking fibroids include white foods. For example, cakes, white rice, cookies, spaghetti, white bread have been shown to cause fibroids to grow in size through altering oestrogen levels.
Boxed cereals, potato chips, and anything containing corn syrup can all cause difficulties by raising blood sugar levels and causing your body to release more insulin.
Outlook!
In order to manage your uterine fibroids, you can only do so much with your food and lifestyle. In case you have severe bloating, heavy periods, or pelvic, you have to visit your doctor. You can consult with a well-known gynaecologist in Lahore. You can book an appointment via Helathwire.pk or make a call at (042) 32500989.
